Lynda Bellingham’s sons have described their mother as 'a very trusting woman' as they spoke about their ongoing dispute over her will.
Robbie and Michael Peluso said they felt they had not been included in decisions that were made towards the end of the TV star’s life.
Lynda died in October 2014 after a battle with bowel cancer, leaving her estate to her third husband Michael Pattemore.
Phillip Schofield, Holly Willoughby with Robert Peluso and Michael Peluso (Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
The brothers told Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby on ITV’s This Morning about their struggles since she died, with Robbie saying: “I think she was a very trusting woman. She always saw the best in everyone. The advice she was given, whatever that may have been, inheritance tax and things like that, she felt that what she was doing was the best by us.
Michael Pattemore with wife Lynda Bellingham (John Stillwell/PA)
“We have a very close unit around us of friends and family to look after us who have been there for us and we just wish there was a bit more faith put into them. I just wish that the decision, that we had our own choices to make.”
The late Lynda Bellingham's sons speak exclusively to @itvthismorning: https://t.co/JQHBUin9Dl pic.twitter.com/BCKY62miKu
— This Morning (@itvthismorning) May 3, 2016
Michael added: “Her main focus, and it became more of a point once she became ill, she just wanted to make sure we would be OK, a roof over our heads.”
Robbie said he did not feel he had been allowed to grieve for his mother yet, saying: “I think what I want people watching to understand is that it is about the money, of course it is, it’s about the security and what our mother wanted for us, but it’s also more than that, it’s also stopping people making those stories and coming out with those allegations, when you are trying to deal with the grief of a mother which we haven’t actually really had a chance to do over the last 18 months.”
A statement from Mr Pattemore given to the programme said: “The only comment I will make is, we don’t have probate yet and when it’s released that is when I will make my comment.”
